Gaudin is a goner.

In the Yankee world, the major brouhaha among fans is still the controversy over Phil Hughes claiming the 5th starter’s spot, largely due to what seems to be his development of the changeup and a few meaningless Spring Training games. Though that’s unquestionably a decisive issue, and one that I can’t get on board with (assuming Joba is in the 8th inning role this year), there’s other news that may be every bit as critical to the Yankees season: the release of hybrid starter/long reliever Chad Gaudin.

Now, no one is going to argue that Gaudin is a fairly average pitcher with limitations. But he is what he is–and that’s a guy that can provide starting rotation depth and keep his team in the game (assuming they have some semblance of an offense–something the Yankees certainly have). He’s death on righties, but struggles with lefties and seems to really get knocked around by the 5th inning. It would seem that Gaudin was released by the Yankees due to his salary, which was a non-guaranteed contract at $2.95 million (perhaps to get under the $200 mil. mark?), and the 26-year-old righty not having options left, thus limiting flexibility. By cutting Gaudin the Yankees only ate a bit over $730,000, but to me, the “loss” should be quantified differently.

Part of the rationale on the part of the Yankees releasing Gaudin stems not only from his salary, but on the assumption that they’d still have adequate depth in case of injury. They’re probably also hedging their bets on some of their AAA fodder putting up numbers as good as what Gaudin would contribute (or simply don’t think they’ll be needed)…or the more interesting possibility—Chamberlain is the de-facto 6th starter.

I didn’t like the Yankees’ perplexing decision to utilize Gaudin an Mitre as a 5th starter last year over that of Phil Hughes, who while great in a bullpen role, could have used the innings and likely would have made a greater impact as a starter–his actual position. Sure, things worked out. That doesn’t mean it was the right call.

In terms of replacing Gaudin, little in Mitre’s track record suggests he can duplicate Gaudin’s numbers, though he had a great first half of 2007 until injuries to his hamstring and blisters on his fingers manifested. He’s now two years out from Tommy John surgery, usually the point in which the pitcher is at full strength. It would appear that the Yankees fell for Mitre’s more attractive salary, solid Spring performance and the bet that he’d be picked up by another team. But isn’t Gaudin more reliable? Isn’t that itself worth the $2.95 million? Cutting Mitre would have saved what–$800k? A guy making up to 10 starts depending on health is worth the $1.2 million saved, even if they’re a bit more confident that Mitre can rebound in his second year post-TJ. Gaudin, according to Fangraphs, was actually worth $6.5 million last year. Mitre has been worth over $1.5 million in one year—his 2007 season ($10.1 mil.). Clearly, the safer bet, historically at least, was let go in favor of the guy with a spottier record, though likely more upside. We’re not privy to what the Yankees know, but all things being equal, I’d rather have reliability than upside in fringe spot starters.

To save $2.2 million, I get the feeling that the Yankees were stepping over dollars to pick up pennies, as the phrase goes. But looking further, it must have something to do with related pieces–you guessed it: Joba and Hughes. With Hughes firmly planted as the 5th starter with vague innings limits, Joba still has options and Boone Logan is still on the team. Without Gaudin on the team, the last pitching spot falls to either Boone Logan or Joba.

If Joba is in a role that gets him multiple innings and will enable him to start, this move makes a fair amount of sense, given that there wasn’t much flexibility. If Logan is up and Joba is in AAA working in the rotation, this move also makes sense. This move is only quite questionable if Joba is in the 8th inning, won’t be transitioned, and the depth is now lessened. I fear that Girardi will be too overcome with the possibility of having an elite set-up man, and we’re left with a depth situation that may be worse than last year.

Let’s look at 5-man rotations. Last year the Yankees had overall excellent health. CC, AJ, Andy and Joba were all able to go for 170+ innings. They brought along innings-eater Javier Vasquez, another guy likely to hit the 200 mark (and one who may very well be the second-best starter). Still, there’s a caveat. Burnett’s injury history, though vastly improved (he’s thrown two consecutive 200+ inning seasons), is tenuous. CC, a throwback to the old days, has thrown more pitches than Ol’ Hoss Radburn before lunch the last few seasons, Andy Pettitte is up there in age. Hughes will  have inning limits, though we’re not sure what the cap may be; he also has an injury history himself. Could we find ourselves in a similar situation to last year in which Hughes hits his limit fairly early? What happens then? No worries on Javy, at least.

I’m not necessarily expecting these guys to go down but we can’t discount that there is a very real possibility. These guys are not infallible; just because they had great health last year does not mean it’ll continue. There are concerns, particularly what’s popularly known as “Cole Hamels Syndrome”–the hangover effect from pitching so many innings due to post-season play.

So, with that, it’s important that there are some solid backups to fill any possible injury hole. Aceves can be transitioned from long-relief to spot start. But if Mitre’s now the defacto sixth starter without options (again, I’m assuming Joba will be in a one-inning role and will not be transitioned during the year), Ace is more likely to be in middle relief. So we go down the line. After Mitre, we have Zach McAllister. He’s basically entering AAA. He may be the top pitching prospect in the upper minors, but he’s still just a prospect. He doesn’t have elite stuff, either, so he may be roughed up pretty badly if he gets the call. No idea how he’d perform. Behind him is Ivan Nova, a talented but inconsistent guy that again, is a prospect.

After this we’re in Jason Hirsh, Kei Igawa, Romulo Sanchez, Jeremy Bleich territory. Some are known quantities (known to suck) and some are unknown. Assuming the Yankees could manage their pitching flexibility in the big leagues with Gaudin and Mitre not having options, wouldn’t it make more sense to have two guys that can fill in?

Ultimately, it would seem our hope for depth now comes with Chamberlain being placed in a role that allows him to take the ball every 5th day. Ben Kabak of River Ave. Blues concluded this all perfectly.

“I’m holding out hope, perversely, for a minor league assignment for the sixth starter [Joba]. The future of the team will benefit greatly if neither pitcher is encumbered with an innings limit. Joe Girardi says this final announcement will be made later today, and only then will we finally see what developmental course the Yankees have charted for their young arms. Boone Logan might just be the beneficiary of a team looking not only to 2010 but also beyond.”

Unless the Yankees are up to something I haven’t thought of or are actually planning on having someone other than Z-Mac, Nova, Hirsh, etc. replace Gaudin, I find this move quite perplexing. Anyone have any thoughts on how this will shake out?

Though he's a starter, Joba is looking to close the deal here

In a response to a New York Post article on Joba Chamberlain and his Spring Training struggles, I simply want to point out the following…………..young pitchers struggle!!!

I have made the point a million times that about 1% (not scientific) of even the most phenom-ic of phenoms dominate the majors from Day 1.  Consider then for a moment that Joba is pitching in the (by far) best division in baseball.  What can we truly expect from Joba through the tender age of 23 with minimal minor league experience?  While there are a ton of young pitchers who struggled early before developing into starts, Jon Lester is the guy I think of most when it comes to Joba.  They were both big time prospects cutting their teeth in the AL East as 22-23 year olds, pitching for the two biggest teams in baseball.  People may forget it now, but Lester struggled before breaking out as a 24 year old in 2008.  What age will Joba be on Opening Day this year?  24.

Not only that, but both were on restricted innings and pitch counts until, again, age 24.  When the training wheels were taken off Lester he flourished, and I think Joba has it in him to do the same.  Before any Yankee fans jump off a bridge with regards to Joba’s performance this Spring (or worse, become B-Jobbers), take a look at the following numbers:

Joba Chamberlin 2009 as a 23 year old in 32 games (31 starts)

4.75 ERA, 157.1 innings, 167 hits, 76 walks, 133 strikeouts

Jon Lester’s first 27 games (26 starts) before turning 24

4.68 ERA, 144 innings, 152 hits, 74 walks, 110 strikeouts

Jon Lester’s Spring Training stats as a 24 year old (as Joba is this year)

6.00 ERA, 12 innings

Jon Lester as a 24 year old (as Joba is this year)

3.21 ERA, 210.1 innings, 202 hits, 66 walks, 152 strikeouts

Am I thrilled with Joba’s early (very early) struggles in Spring Training?  Well no, of course not. Am I concerned?  No, not really.  Take a look again; Lester’s stats pre-24 were almost identical to Joba’s, and then he went to Spring Training that year and continued to struggle.  After that it was breakout city for Lester.  Joba has the talent, the smarts and the stuff to become a right-handed Jon Lester (with more hair).  Will it happen, I truly don’t know, but I do know that it is way too early to display any concern with Joba’s Spring stats as well as Joba’s career stats.  Roy Halladay, at the same age as Joba was in 2009 was pitching to the tune of a 10.64 ERA, and he already had pitched over 150 innings at the big league level prior to that season.  As a Yankee fan, I can only wish that the Blue Jays had been dumb enough to ship him out or ship him to the ‘pen for good.

I am not concerned at all with Joba’s stats, nor am I concerned with diminished velocity from when he was in the bullpen. That is to be expected; much like Phil Hughes’ increased fastball velocity while in the pen was expected. If on April 15th Joba’s throwing 90-91 in regular season starts, I’ll be concerned. Until then, my thoughts on Joba have not changed in the slightest. Patience is a virtue, and patience must be exercised when considering the future of Joba Chamberlain.

This is another guest post by Jose.

An exhausted Irabu, having just climbed a flight of stairs and tied his shoes.

Fan favorite Hideki Irabu has agreed to put on the pinstripes once more. Last pitching in the majors in 2002, the 40-year old right-hander is ready for a return. GMs around the league are upset to have missed out on offering Irabu the $500,000 he would eventually agree to. Minaya stated, “Cash is a ninja, if I knew Irabu was available I would have jumped on it.”

Media outlets in New York began printing stories about Hughes and Chamberlain returning to the bullpen as soon as the contract ink dried. Irabu addressed these questions. “People will want to know who the fifth starter is. It isn’t a competition, I already won.” Irabu claims the reason he is ready is due to new gyroball.

The gyroball is best known as the greatest pitch ever. The pitch is described as a slider that floats up and cuts in on the batter, adjusting depending on the handedness of the hitter. Irabu claimed to have recently hit 110 MPH with the pitch according to radar guns. (No fact check was done to check whether that was in MPH or KPH, so it has been assumed to be MPH.)

One area of concern for the Yankees is whether to un-retire Irabu’s number. It had previously been retired following the 1999 season and earned a special place in monument park. It is believed that an exception will be made due to the fact that the player who originally wore it wishes to wear it again. If that doesn’t occur, it is believed he will wear #6 as an homage to the number of flawless seasons he had previously played in MLB.

Irabu is expected to report to camp before the start of the season.